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Coach puts passion into University of Alabama’s adapted golf program

Ford Burttram, a Pensacola, Fla., native, played golf and varsity basketball in high school before he was injured and partially paralyzed in an auto accident at age 16. Now, Burttram is an assistant coach with the University of Alabama men’s wheelchair basketball team.

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By Tommy DeasExecutive Sports Editor

Published: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 11, 2013 at 10:28 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | Ford Burttram was a good enough golfer to finish 14th in the state of Florida’s high school championship when he was a sophomore.

The Pensacola, Fla., native also played varsity basketball before an automobile accident sent him through a windshield at age 16, forever changing his life.

“It was completely my fault,” said Burttram, who now uses a wheelchair.

“If I had been wearing a seat belt, I’d have walked away.”

Burttram spent a year home schooling as he adapted to his new life and returned to graduate on time. He discovered wheelchair basketball and played at a college in Wisconsin and later at the University of Alabama.

Now, at age 33, Burttram works part-time in the UA Adapted Athletics program as an assistant coach with the UA men’s wheelchair basketball team, but he found a new calling as head coach of what he believes to be the first adapted golf program in the world.

“Golf is my first passion,” Burttram said. “To have a chance to pursue this is amazing. I hope it goes nowhere but up.”

Brent Hardin, director of the program, believes golf can be a fruitful new frontier in collegiate athletics for students with disabilities.

“We’re the first one,” Hardin said. “It’s kind of exciting because there are so many associations out there and so many tournaments. I think we can make a lot of impact there.”

Burttram is organizing a tournament to raise money at a local course, possibly next month. He expects the inaugural UA adaptive golfers to compete for the first time in July at a tournament in Georgia for amputee golfers.

Burttram is the right guy for the program, Hardin believes.

“I’m not a great golfer,” Hardin said, “but Ford can wear me out. He can hit it 200 yards straight.”

New frontiers are nothing new to Burttram.

“I play golf, disc golf, hunt, fish, water ski,” he said. “I’ve jumped out of airplanes, you name it.”

<p>TUSCALOOSA | Ford Burttram was a good enough golfer to finish 14th in the state of Florida's high school championship when he was a sophomore.</p><p>The Pensacola, Fla., native also played varsity basketball before an automobile accident sent him through a windshield at age 16, forever changing his life.</p><p>“It was completely my fault,” said Burttram, who now uses a wheelchair. </p><p>“If I had been wearing a seat belt, I'd have walked away.”</p><p>Burttram spent a year home schooling as he adapted to his new life and returned to graduate on time. He discovered wheelchair basketball and played at a college in Wisconsin and later at the University of Alabama.</p><p>Now, at age 33, Burttram works part-time in the UA Adapted Athletics program as an assistant coach with the UA men's wheelchair basketball team, but he found a new calling as head coach of what he believes to be the first adapted golf program in the world.</p><p>“Golf is my first passion,” Burttram said. “To have a chance to pursue this is amazing. I hope it goes nowhere but up.”</p><p>Brent Hardin, director of the program, believes golf can be a fruitful new frontier in collegiate athletics for students with disabilities.</p><p>“We're the first one,” Hardin said. “It's kind of exciting because there are so many associations out there and so many tournaments. I think we can make a lot of impact there.”</p><p>Burttram is organizing a tournament to raise money at a local course, possibly next month. He expects the inaugural UA adaptive golfers to compete for the first time in July at a tournament in Georgia for amputee golfers.</p><p>Burttram is the right guy for the program, Hardin believes.</p><p>“I'm not a great golfer,” Hardin said, “but Ford can wear me out. He can hit it 200 yards straight.”</p><p>New frontiers are nothing new to Burttram.</p><p>“I play golf, disc golf, hunt, fish, water ski,” he said. “I've jumped out of airplanes, you name it.”</p>